Homesick ....

This world is broken. 

I don’t need to tell any of you that do I? In the last 24 hours we have seen plenty to remind us just how broken this world has become.

I know of a precious Guatemalan grandmother, blind in one eye and half blind in the other. She is the primary care giver of her two young granddaughters. They have been left behind since their mother’s new family doesn’t care to provide for her children from a previous relationship. When we visited her this week, she had no electricity, no firewood to cook on and no candles with which to see. They are alone and vulnerable in this dark world. All that is in me wants to rage against the circumstances and people who have created this situation.

I know a single mom, working hard to feed, clothe and educate her three kids. She caught a cold a couple weeks ago which has become bronchitis. She has chronic reflux which prevents her from eating well. She has acquired an amoeba and a kidney infection.  She got some medical care and medicines this week, yet she is struggling to understand the directions and importance of taking the eight different meds she was prescribed. I feel frustrated and helpless.

Yesterday, innocents gunned down in the safest of towns, in what should be a safe haven with trusted guardians. And we all wonder why? WHY???? When will the senseless brokenness end? We are painfully reminded of our broken and fallen world. Our illusion of safety and security is shattered. We are reminded that we were not created for this kind of life.

Anybody besides me homesick for Eden?

This month, our family, like many families, is celebrating Advent with a Jesse Tree devotional. Each day we read scriptures and hang an ornament. We are reminding ourselves of God’s story through the Bible - how He created perfection, how we chose our own way, how He pursued us and made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. The word Advent means “Coming.” We are remembering the coming of our King. We are looking back at God’s endless mercy and grace which heals our brokenness.

As I sit and ponder the things I have seen this week, I can’t help but look forward to the day when He comes again and heals our hearts forever. I look at the night sky, wondering if a new star will harken our hearts to the triumphant return of the King of Kings. I anxiously long for the trumpet to sound, for every knee to bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I wait for the day when we will dwell together in the presence of the Lord, when He will wipe away every tear, death will be defeated, mourning will end, pain will not exist, all former things will pass away.

My heart cries out “Come, Lord Jesus.” Come and heal our hearts!!

Growing Community and Passing it on . . .

As we start our second year of ministry at Redeemer’s House International, we are seeing God do some major work on growing our ministry team and our community. He has added two amazing families as full-time workers and three young adults who will be serving for one year. We are so excited to be building a community of Christ followers who desire to serve the least and the last. 

The Lord recognized a need for more hands, feet, minds and hearts in order to grow this burgeoning dream of fighting for single moms and their families. In his kindness, he also recognized our personal need for community. He sees his people, he hears their cries and he is sending help.

The Everswicks, Radfords, Lexie, Redmans, Ericksons & Angel

So we find ourselves in a season of passing on what knowledge, experience, vision and passion the Lord has given us. What we have been given is not ours to keep. It isn’t always easy, but it’s a joy to share with others how the Lord is working here in Guatemala. As we work hard to integrate our new team and pass on vision, pray that God's kingdom on earth will reflect his kingdom in heaven.

We had an opportunity to "pass it on" last summer with our “accidental” intern, Kristina. She was anything but accidental - she was divinely appointed to live with us and share in the work that God has called us to do. She loved on our kids (and our dog), she served our teams and our ministry families, she is completely smitten with a little guy named Mario, she loves food (especially piecaken and fried oreos), she is hilarious, a rebellious rule-breaker and totally 100% in love with Jesus. I asked her to write a little bit about her summer here in Guate. These are her thoughts:

Kristina & Mario

“The first thing you should know is I am a bit of a know it all and coincidentally I have a bad habit of assuming that I know what is best for those around me.  Prior to coming to Guatemala I had already solved all the issues of poverty, in my head of course, and would neatly move everyone I encountered from the “impoverished” category into the “middle class.” Ha! Instead, I wound up having my world wrecked by a huge God working in the midst of a problem much more complicated than I ever anticipated. 

This summer I served as an “accidental” intern with Redeemer’s House International(RHI); the two months I spent with the Radford family completely shifted my paradigm on helping those in poverty.  RHI helped me see that the needs of the poor are not just physical, they are emotional and spiritual as well.  RHI does in fact address the physical needs: providing food deliveries, water filters, supplementing rent for safe housing, taking clinic trips to address health needs etc., but the impact of what they do is so much greater.  RHI interacts with these families inside their homes, often sitting on plastic stools, and offers the one thing they are truly in need of: Jesus Christ.  In Christ, RHI gets to place value on families that society has deemed worthless.  They get to tell them that the God of the universe hears them, sees them, and loves them exactly as they are.  RHI serves as a holistic ministry that sees the poor for what they are, people.  People with basic needs who need to be known and loved in the way that only Christ can. 

RHI taught me what it means to see the people instead of the poverty.  They taught me that I am no better than these friends of mine simply because I have running water.  My biggest take away from RHI is that All people stand on the same level ground of God’s grace and mercy, regardless of their social standing, their physical comforts (or discomforts), their education (or lack of education)… each of us are in need of the slow work of God’s grace and mercy in our lives, equally, essentially, eternally.”

Kristina Fleming, Stillwater, OK

The power of the gospel is not meant to be hoarded or guarded - it is meant to be shared, to be passed on to the current and next generations. As the Lord pours out his grace and mercy on us, it spills over onto those around us. Who are you passing it on to today?

Restoration Story - Part 2

This week marks the one year anniversary of launching Redeemer's House International. As we look back over the year, I want to share a couple of stories that are shaping how we serve the poor in Guatemala. Here is the story of Casimero and Maria.

Casimero, Maria and their three daughters. (Their son is not pictured)

In October of last year, there was a terrible tropical storm that dumped 9 days of continuous rain on Guatemala. The river in Panajachel was raging, boulders were tumbling downstream and mud was sliding down the mountains. The river exceeded its normal banks and swept several homes away. 

Casimero, his wife Maria and their four children lost their home in the flooded river. They live next to the river because Casimero works in the river. He sifts sand and rocks in order to sell for construction projects. It is hard and sometimes dangerous work.

At RHI, we primarily work with single moms and their children, because they are the most vulnerable. Casimero & Maria are an exception for us. They lost everything in that storm. It did not go unnoticed by the Lord. He has heard their prayers and he has answered. He has sent the help and encouragement they so desperately need.

Materially speaking, they don’t have much. Their family of six lives in one room that spans 10 x 12. They have no electricity, no running water. Their house is built of wooden slats and old corrugated lamina. They usually cook over a wood burning fire outside. BUT - they have each other - and that goes a LONG way. Having an intact family with a dad who cares for and loves them, makes all the difference in the world.

Cutie Pie!!

Spiritually speaking, they have wealth beyond most. Visiting their home is like going to worship the King of Kings in a cathedral. When you enter this humble abode, the light of Christ and the warmth of his love permeates all darkness. They have such a generous heart of hospitality. 

Generally when we visit, they run to the tienda to buy a Coke Cola. They don’t buy Pepsi or Super Cola - they know we are from Coke Town (Atlanta). They buy the most expensive soda available because they want to bless us. It humbles us, but what a blessing to feel the joy of their home and share a cold drink. Some would prefer they not spend their hard earned money on something so extravagant. They would prefer to bring the Coke with them or refuse. Doing that would deny them the opportunity to be generous. It would not give honor and dignity to their home. It would only add to the shame of their humble circumstances. In this case, it is better to receive rather than give.

Ice cold Coca Cola on a steamy hot day! Ahhhhhh!

We have had several opportunities to make minor improvements to their home. We helped them get windows, build a front porch and put new lamina on the front. We helped dig and build a new latrine. These are wonderful blessings that they cannot provide for themselves, but it’s not the greatest good we can do in their lives. 

Replacing wooden slats with corrugated metal siding.

Maria has had some health issues this year. There was a time when her body did not seem to be getting well and her spirits were very low. What a privilege it was for me to sit with her, listen to her laments and encourage her as a sister in Christ. She needed medicine for her body that day, but her spirit needed something more. It needed to see, hear and feel God with skin on. She needed to know God sees her, he hears her, he has sent help. Her spirit needed to know that she is not alone in this world. She has a Father who loves her beyond measure and she has a sister in Christ that comes in the name of the Lord to serve and to bless. It was wonderful to be able to meet her physical need for medicine, but it was an honor and joy to minister to her spirit. Once again I realize our purpose here has more to do with BEING present in relationship instead of doing anything.

Maria enjoying a day by the lake!

I know we have received far more than we have given Casimero and Maria. We see a stark contrast in their family from the other families we serve. A dad makes a big difference. We visited their home the day before we left for our trip to the US. Maria told us they are overwhelmed with gratitude for our family and our help. Casimero hasn’t had much work this month and she couldn’t prepare a going away meal or a small gift for us. Instead, she sang a hymn over us. “Dios cuidara de ti” God will watch over and care for you on your journey. There is NOTHING in this world she could have given us that would mean more than to have God’s love and care sung over our family through our journey. Absolutely priceless.

A different perspective . . .

As we look back over the year and all that the Lord has done at Redeemer's House, I wanted to get some feedback from some of you that have visited us in Guatemala. I wanted the rest of you to hear from someone other than me about what it looks like to serve the poor. My new and dear friend Rebecca Radicchi agreed to write about her visit earlier this summer. You can read more about Rebecca and her family on her blog.

Food, education, clothing, shelter, health care.  The needs of the poor are many.  Redeemer’s House International has chosen to impact the poor by investing in some of Guatemala’s most vulnerable, at-risk families.  They seek to build relationships that transform lives through the love of Christ. 

Most of the families within their adopt-a-family program are single mothers like Lucia.  She is a tiny woman who walks the streets of Panajachel selling souvenirs.  Carrying a large cloth sack full of her wares, she finds an open spot on the street.  Laying out her bookmarks, blankets and purses, she can only hope to draw the attention of a shopper. She lives on the edge of survival, hoping each day only to feed her children. A sickness, storm or slow selling season threatens her ability to care for her kids.

Lucia selling her Guatemalan wares.

While serving alongside Redeemer’s House this past summer, we visited several families like Lucia’s.   With a small bag of rice, beans, fruit and veggies in hand, we visited as friends.  Though we walked into homes where three kids slept on a stack of cardboard boxes, where rain poured in through cracks in ceilings, where there was no electricity and no water, we honored their lives and their homes.  Though everything in us wanted to start making shopping lists and organizing building teams, we simply connected and made sure they had food for dinner.

Truly this was a trip of both the mind and the heart for me.  God had things to show me.  My heart, heavy with memories of poverty seen on other mission trips in other places, has been processing how to serve without hurting.  With Redeemer’s House, I saw this in action.  Knowing that Christ alone can redeem, we fought the urge to play savior.  Knowing that our help could create competition between families and neighbors, we met needs carefully.  Not wanting to put local businesses out of jobs by bringing suitcases of clothes, shoes and gifts, we gave only ourselves.  Not wanting to create non-sustainable dependence, we brought food for only a few meals. 

This ministry does meet some tangible needs for their families.  During our stay, food and water filters were distributed, medicine bought, a kitchen table constructed, money donated to pay for a surgery, and a single mother was moved into a better living situation.  Yet these things too were done carefully, without the intention of “fixing”.  Ultimately, our hope was that the poor of Guatemala see God as provider, as healer, as their hope.   Our desire was to serve only in ways that pointed them to Jesus.  

a peek into a Guatemalan home

Looking into the eyes of the poor, empties me.  Walking the streets in Panajachel refocused my heart, off of myself, and onto to Jesus.  I was reminded that I can’t seem to fix myself, and that I certainly am incapable of fixing the hurting with a suitcase of shoes.  Spending the week doing ministry with the Radfords was an opportunity to serve in a new way, carrying only the hope of the gospel and a willingness to pour ourselves out for one another.  It was a game changer. 

"Our relationship with the materially poor should be one in which we recognize that both of us are broken and that both of us need the blessing of reconciliation. Our perspective should be less about how we are going to fix the materially poor and more about how we can walk together, asking God to fix us both."
-from When Helping Hurts by Fikkert & Corbett

Rebecca and her new girlfriends!

Thank you, Rebecca for sharing your thoughtful insights. Can't wait to serve side by side again. 

Restoration - Part 1

At the beginning of August, we celebrated our two year anniversary of being in Guatemala. On September 15th, we will celebrate the one year anniversary of launching Redeemer’s House International. I thought it might be a good time to share a few our of restoration stories.

Katarina, Debora and Giovani

In October, we met Katarina, a single mom who struggles to feed, clothe and educate her three children. She was abandoned by her husband when she was expecting her youngest daughter, Debora. She has very little education and work skills. Sometimes she washes laundry or make fresh hot tortillas to sell. Neither of these jobs can adequately provide for her family. She barely earns more than $1 a day.

When she earns that $1, she has to put $0.66 towards her rent. That only leaves $0.44 per day to buy food and basic necessities. What does that $0.66 a day get her? It gets her an 8x8 room, without windows or ventilation, an outdoor kitchen area, a fenced yard for the kids to play, an open well and a latrine. It does not get her running water or electricity. She must buy or scavenge wood for cooking. She borrows water from neighbors or walks to the local municipal water source. It takes time and energy to acquire these basic needs.

She often leaves the children unattended while she works. Their lack of proper supervision leads to some behavioral and educational problems. The lack of hygiene and adequate nutrition causes frequent illnesses, yet they have limited access to medical care or treatment. There are so many things going awry, how do we get started? Where does one begin to help or make a difference?

We begin with caution, discernment, prayer and conversation. We ask about their greatest felt needs. I don’t want to assume that what I see as the greatest needs are the same as what she sees. I don’t want to reinforce the perception of being the all-knowing gringa with power and money, here to rescue her from poverty or from herself. Where is the dignity in that? Sometimes, this is so hard for me. But I have learned I don’t always know what’s best for Katarina and her kids.

For example, when we first visited Katarina’s house, I was plagued by thoughts of her children falling in the open well and drowning. I was determined to do something about making a safer environment for the kids. It was obvious that Katarina was more concerned about other things - like not starving. After we got to know her better, we offered to build a well-cover (Add link here) for her. She was happy to let us do that, but EVERY single time we visited her, the well cover was wide open - which sort of defeats the purpose of building it to keep the kids out. 

I wanted to make a safer environment for Katarina’s kids. Yet my answer to the problem eventually became a literal burden. Katarina decided to move to a different house. That well cover was her property and she wanted to keep it. So, she busted it apart and physically carried it across town to her new house. A short time later, she moved back to her original house. She again carried the boards across town. Of course, now it is useless for anything except firewood and the well remains open. My “solution” to the “problem” didn’t work out like I expected.

Sometimes we want to DO something, we want to take action. I am discovering that what I really need to DO is BE PRESENT - present with Katarina and present with the Lord. I need to listen, wait on the Lord and only sometimes is there an action.

Working with the poor is not easy. I have to remember I am not here to end poverty, although there are times we can alleviate some of the burdens of poverty. I am here to love people because Christ loves them. Sometimes we take a step forward, and then it seems like we take two backwards. The good news is that every step - whether forward or backward - is a learning opportunity. We are learning how to work with the poor, how to be friends with the poor, how to shine the light of Jesus into a dark and hopeless world.

Still growing us ...

A few days ago I wrote about some of the amazing things God has done over the past year. Well what about the future? Remember when I said God can do crazy, amazing, incredible things ... and He’s not done doing them at Redeemer’s House? 

God continues to grow and expand our circle of influence. In January, we have the privilege of welcoming Todd and Maureen Erickson and their children, Katey, Clay and Emily to the staff of RHI. 

Katey, Emily, Todd, Clay, and Maureen (and Nina)

For the last two years the Erickson’s have been working in a village outside of Antigua. Their ministry has included a VBS style after school program, tutoring program for students, food deliveries to impoverished families, and intentional disciple making. We are thrilled to have them join us as we serve the least and the last in Guatemala.

They will continue to serve in the Antigua area, thus beginning a new service location for Redeemer’s House. We are humbled by God’s grace and mercy. He continues to lead, we continue to be a conduit through which He makes himself known to the nations.

Welcome Erickson family! Hold on, it’s a wild ride!

Rear View Mirror

If someone had told me 5 or 6 years ago that my husband would leave corporate America for full-time ministry, I would have said - “That’s crazy!” If someone had suggested 3 years ago that we would sell our home and all our junk to become missionaries in Guatemala, I would have thought they were insane. If someone foretold us 2 years ago, “Hey your first gig won’t work out as expected, so you are gonna start a new ministry.” I would have laughed, knowing that is the craziest thing God could do in our lives. If you had told us last year, that God would grow that ministry as He has done in this first year, I would not have believed you. I would have said - it’s not possible. I think the Lord enjoys crushing my expectations and exceeding what seems possible.

Here is an review of our first year with Redeemer’s House International.

Sept. 2011

• Returned from US on the 15th and launched a new ministry. 
• New school year begins - Parker in 6th grade, Anna Kate in 4th
• Application for 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization submitted
• Begin work on website - www.redeemershouse.org

Oct 2011

• Met Katarina - single mom of three beautiful children
• Visit from Peterson family
• Tropical storm damage - We saw the undeniable strength and power of water as it destroyed homes.
• Launch Adopt-a-family program to assist with nutritional needs, home improvement needs, educational needs and whatever else comes down the pipe.

Nov 2011

• Met Casimero & Maria - who lost their home in the storm.
• Burgers visit - Built a well cover for the protection of Katarina’s kids. 
• We adopted the world’s CUTEST dog into our family - Ali 
• Conversations begin with Rick & Emily Everswick about an extended summer visit to Guate.

Ridiculous, I know - but soooo cute!

Dec 2011

• RHI receives approval for 501(c)3 from IRS.
• North Metro Church hosts the Hope Market and raises over $6000 for RHI - used the funds to build a house for single mom, Rosa
• Mimi visits for Christmas - lots of sight-seeing and fun excursions.

Tradition - baking Christmas cookies with Mimi.

Jan 2012

• Rich & Cheryl Buhre arrive for four months - tons of fun serving and building ministry together.
• Began the process for creating a Guatemalan Non-profit Association, called Casa Del Redentor.
• Talked with 3 young adults who want to serve for one year with RHI - Lexie, Michael & Karri.
• Bought school supplies for needy families headed back to school. 
• Conversation with Everswicks evolves into long term co-laborers instead of a summer visit.

Feb 2012

• RHI’s first intern Eliza arrives for three months of service.
• We launch an After School Tutoring program to help kids with reading, math, English and Bible.
• Construction on Rosa’s house begins
• Took Casimero’s daughter, Maribel to an Orthopedic clinic in San Lucas Toliman.
• Lee helped build a front porch at Casimero & Maria’s house.

Working on Casimero & Maria's house

March 2012

• RHI’s first short-term team - ECHO - who helped with construction at Rosa’s. 
• Visits from many friends including - Maggard’s, Gibson’s, Pearson’s, Kicklighter’s.

April 2012

• Brown Family Team - such fun to share and serve together. 
• Residency process is finalized, we are now residents of Guatemala.
• Xocomil - we took the kids to an amazing Guatemalan water park to celebrate their birthdays.
• Met Sebastiana - a grandmother helping to support and raise two adult children and two grandchildren.
• Took Maria Celestina to an eye clinic in Chamancaj, Guatemala

Our favorite lazy river!

May 2012

• Angel’s parents arrive with a team from the Crossing Church in Tampa, FL.
• Friends from Antigua bring family and friends (13) to support Todd running the Panajachel Half Marathon in the rain.
• Grandfather/Grandson team help build a new latrine for Casimero’s family.

Todd running on a lonely stretch of mountain road.

June 2012

• Intern Cat Marlow arrives for one month - such a huge help with teams and school programs.
• NMC brings a rockin team who helped host an amazing science camp
• Accidental Intern Kristina moves in for 6 weeks and wrecks our life - (actually she was a divinely appointed blessing to our summer)
• Rob Greene arrives to talk Lee’s ears off - I mean brainstorm through Vision, Strategy and Goals, blah, blah blah and other really helpful stuff.
• Casa Del Redentor receives approval as a Guatemalan Association.
• Met Nicolasa and Dominga - two single moms trying desperately to keep shelter over head and food on the table.

Amazing day at the lake.

July 2012

• Cruser Family - Father and two daughters arrive to serve and bless the families of Pana. Bonnie Leigh stays an extra week to serve and visit clinics.
• Lee & I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.
• We take all the interns kayaking on Lake Atitlan. (BL, Kristina, Bethany & Katie)
• Melder Family Team - Parents and 3 daughters came to serve and teach 4 days of Art Camp. What fun, messy times we had!

Paper Mache art projects - fearfully and wonderfully made.

August 2012

• Radfords are headed to the States for much needed rest, relaxation and Chickfila.

See you guys soon!!

So as I look in the rear view mirror I see - 2 non profits created, 4 long-term missionaries joining, 3 mid-term missionaries joining, 5 interns discipled, 130+ days of guests/teams hosted, 55 visitors from US, served 9 Guatemala families (50+ people), taught 40+ kids in after school program - and ONE amazing God who can do crazy, insane, impossible things with any old passenger in the car.

Guess what? He’s not done yet - He’s doing more incredible and unbelievable works. 

A conduit of God's grace

This morning as I was washing the dishes, I was praying and pondering all the amazing things God has done in the last year. I am amazed at some of the exciting things He is in the midst of doing right now. Last night, as we talked with some of our dear friends and board members, we joked about God being so far out in front of us. He seems to be moving so much faster than us, we wish he would slow down and let us catch up or at least catch our breath.

As I was praying about this, the Lord said “Silly child, if I let you catch up with me, you might get the impression that you have something do with my plans, you might get the idea that YOU can do it in your own strength or you can make it happen. I am at work on my plan and you are just the conduit.”

I started thinking about that - conduit - what is conduit anyway? According to Wikipedia - “electrical conduit is a piping system used for the routing and protection of electrical wiring.” Interesting, so I am simply a routing system for God’s love, his grace and his power.

When an electrician installs conduit, the conduit doesn’t tell the electrician where to install it. The electrician knows what type of conduit to put in various locations based on it’s capacity to handle power. The conduit itself has no power or ability to generate power. There is a source of power and there is a recipient of power, but the conduit is simply a path through which the power may pass.

So, we have no power on our own to execute God’s plan. He is the source of power, the people of Guatemala are some of the recipients of his power and we are simply a path through which his power may pass. 

Lord, lead on and we will follow. Do your thing in us and in this ministry you are building. May we humbly allow your power to pass through us as you are building your kingdom. 

Rockets, Magnets & Gooey Gak

Ready to explore the world!

I had the amazing privilege this week to help teach a Science Camp to about 45 Guatemala children, ages 5 - 16. (in Spanish) The education system in Guatemala struggles to effectively teach the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. So when it comes to history and science, they do not have the necessary resources to teach much more than the simplest of scientific concepts and minimal history. We often find that we have read more on the history of Guatemala than the average Guatemalan. 

Kids, Teachers and NMC Team

Every week we host an After-School tutoring program at a local school. While talking with Principal Nancy about different ways we can help advance her work with the kids in her school, she mentioned that they don’t have the experience, resources or materials for science experiments. They read science facts from a text, but they have no hands on experiences.  Can you imagine trying to understand the concept of magnetism without using magnets or chemical reactions without actually mixing baking soda and vinegar?

Learning about plants....

and magnets ....

When I found out we had a crew of teachers coming from North Metro Church, I asked if they would be interested in planning a mini-science camp. I was a little hesitant, knowing it might be more than I could pull off. This group of teachers were AMAZING. They came up with the activities, the group management plans, 90% of the materials and they even had the lesson plans translated into Spanish. What a joy to have this team serve our ministry and the kids of Guatemala!

Lava lamps were a big hit!

The kids had the opportunity to examine, observe, explore, touch, smell, hear, taste and feel plants, magnets, sound vibrations, chemical reactions and food mixtures. They especially enjoyed the chemistry day as we made a gooey mixture called “Gak.” We also made rockets from plastic film canisters with water and Alka-seltzer. On the food science day, they loved making trail mix, fruit punch, and peanut butter balls.

3 - 2 - 1   BLASTOFF!!

The kids and teachers were so grateful for all that they learned this week. The Lord sees these kids and Nancy’s desire to provide a well-rounded education for them. He provided for a great need in their school. We just happened to be available for him to use. It was our honor to serve alongside this NMC team as we planted seeds and grew young minds. Gracias a Dios!

Sweet little treasures!